EPA sets stage for cutting climate and pollution regs
March 13, 2025
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Energy & Environment
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The Big Story
EPA sets stage for cutting climate and pollution regs
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) indicated Wednesday it will slash a broad suite of rules and determinationsthat aim to cut pollution or mitigate climate change — including from cars and power plants.
The EPA announced that it will consider rolling back Biden-era regulations that are expected to sharply increase the number of electric vehicles sold as well as speed coal plant closures.
It will also reconsider the finding that climate change poses a threat to the public — which in turn lays regulatory groundwork for further climate action.
But, the EPA’s announcement that it will reconsider the rules marks a formal step toward repealing the regulations. However, for the approximately 20 regulations the EPA said it would target on Wednesday, the announcement marks the beginning of the process, rather than the end, and it’s possible the agency could change its mind along the way.
Welcome to The Hill’s Energy & Environment newsletter, I’m Rachel Frazin — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has signaled it could narrow which set of waters receive protections under the Clean Water Act — and will narrow protections for wetlands in the meantime.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin said Tuesday night he has terminated $20 billion in green bank grants that were funded by the Democrats’ climate, tax and health care law.
Wildfires and other climate-induced weather extremes are posing an increased threat to cancer patients by shifting their treatment trajectories and access to care, a new study has determined.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said President Trump plans to introduce steep tariffs on copper imports after he directed Cabinet officials to investigate the country’s ability to rely on its domestic supply chain for the metal instead of foreign trade partners.
News we’ve flagged from other outlets touching on energy issues, the environment and other topics:
Climate Group Funded by Bill GatesSlashes Staff in Major Retreat (The New York Times)
Democratic lawmakersslam Pentagon for scrapping climate studies (Reuters)
On Tap
Upcoming news themes and events we’re watching:
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committeewill vote on whether to advance President Trump’s nominees for the No.2 role at EPA and leader of its Air and Radiation Office.
Senate Democrats say they will not vote for the House-passed six-month government funding package, which would boost defense spending and cut nondefense programs, unless they first get a vote on a 30-day funding stopgap to give bipartisan negotiators more time to reach a deal on the annual appropriations bills. Read more
Senate Democrats say the six-month government funding resolution that passed the House Tuesday is a “horrible” bill, but there’s growing sentiment within the Senate Democratic conference that it would be too risky to block the legislation and risk a government shutdown that could drag on for weeks. Read more
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